Toxic Leader

Definition: Toxic Leader is a term coined by leadership expert Jean Lipman-Blumen. She defines it as "an individual who, by virtue of his/her destructive [toxic] behaviors and dysfunctional [toxic] personal qualities, inflicts serious and enduring harm on individuals, groups, organizations, communities and nations that they lead".

Lipman-Blumen believes that the toxic leader exploits their followers’ deep-seated psychological motivations which include the needs for authority, security, the need to feel special as well as the fear of ostracism.

More on toxic leader. More on leadership styles: Authentic Leadership, Charismatic Leadership, Leadership Styles, Level 5 Leadership, Management Versus Leadership, more...